Glass block oil lamp

Abstract

A glass block oil lamp has a hollow glass block with six walls configured in a generally parallelepiped shape. Each of at least five of the walls is between about 4 inches and about 12 inches in length and between about 4 inches and about 12 inches in width. The hollow glass block has a compressive strength greater than about 400 psi. An oil lamp is attached to one of the walls of the glass block. The oil lamp has a combustion zone and a wick. The wick has a first end disposed proximate to the combustion zone and an opposed second end disposed within the interior of the glass block. The glass block is adapted to accept and retain a liquid fuel capable of traveling from the interior of the glass block to the combustion zone via the wick.

1 . A glass block oil lamp comprising:
 (a) a hollow glass block having an interior and an exterior, the glass block comprising six walls configured in a generally parallelepiped shape, each of at least five of the walls being between about 4 inches and about 12 inches in length and between about 4 inches and about 12 inches in width, the hollow glass block having a compressive strength greater than about 400 psi; and   (b) an oil lamp attached to one of the walls of the glass block, the oil lamp comprising a combustion zone and a wick, the wick having a first end disposed proximate to the combustion zone and an opposed second end disposed within the interior of the glass block;   wherein the interior of the glass block is adapted to accept and retain a liquid fuel capable of traveling from the interior of the glass block to the combustion zone via the wick.   
   
   
       2 . The glass block oil lamp of  claim 1  wherein the first end of the wick is retained by a wick holder. 
   
   
       3 . The glass block oil lamp of  claim 1  wherein the first end of the wick is retained by a wick holder having exterior dimensions and the wick holder is retained within a wick holder well which is sized and dimensioned to match the exterior dimensions of the wick holder. 
   
   
       4 . The glass block oil lamp of  claim 1  wherein the first end of the wick is retained by a wick holder having exterior dimensions and the wick holder is threadedly retained within a wick holder well which is sized and dimensioned to match the exterior dimensions of the wick holder, the wick holder having exterior threads and a wick holder well having matching interior threads. 
   
   
       5 . The glass block oil lamp of  claim 1  wherein the first end of the wick is retained by a wick holder having exterior dimensions and the wick holder is retained within a wick holder well which is sized and dimensioned to match the exterior dimensions of the wick holder, the wick holder having the exterior shape of a truncated cone. 
   
   
       6 . The glass block oil lamp of  claim 1  wherein the combustion zone is disposed within a generally horizontal table having a peripheral lip, the horizontal table being of sufficient size to accept and retain a candle having a flat bottom side. 
   
   
       7 . The glass block oil lamp of  claim 1  wherein the combustion zone is disposed within a generally horizontal table having a peripheral lip, the horizontal table defining an area between about 5 square inches and about 15 square inches. 
   
   
       8 . The glass block oil lamp of  claim 1  wherein the combustion zone is disposed within a generally horizontal table having a peripheral lip, and wherein the glass block oil lamp further comprises a candle having a flat bottom disposed upon the horizontal table. 
   
   
       9 . A glass block oil lamp comprising:
 (a) a hollow glass block having an interior and an exterior, the glass block comprising six walls configured in a generally regular parallelepiped shape, each of at least five of the walls being between about 4 inches and about 12 inches in length and between about 4 inches and about 12 inches in width, the hollow glass block having a compressive strength greater than about 400 psi; and   (b) an oil lamp attached to one of the walls of the glass block, the oil lamp comprising a combustion zone and a wick, the wick having a first end disposed proximate to the combustion zone and an opposed second end disposed within the interior of the glass block;   wherein the interior of the glass block is adapted to accept and retain a liquid fuel capable of traveling from the interior of the glass block to the combustion zone via the wick.   
   
   
       10 . The glass block oil lamp of  claim 9  wherein the first end of the wick is retained by a wick holder. 
   
   
       11 . The glass block oil lamp of  claim 9  wherein the first end of the wick is retained by a wick holder having exterior dimensions and the wick holder is retained within a wick holder well which is sized and dimensioned to match the exterior dimensions of the wick holder. 
   
   
       12 . The glass block oil lamp of  claim 9  wherein the first end of the wick is retained by a wick holder having exterior dimensions and the wick holder is threadedly retained within a wick holder well which is sized and dimensioned to match the exterior dimensions of the wick holder, the wick holder having exterior threads and a wick holder well having matching interior threads. 
   
   
       13 . The glass block oil lamp of  claim 9  wherein the first end of the wick is retained by a wick holder having exterior dimensions and the wick holder is retained within a wick holder well which is sized and dimensioned to match the exterior dimensions of the wick holder, the wick holder having the exterior shape of a truncated cone. 
   
   
       14 . The glass block oil lamp of  claim 9  wherein the combustion zone is disposed within a generally horizontal table having a peripheral lip, the horizontal table being of sufficient size to accept and retain a candle having a flat bottom side. 
   
   
       15 . The glass block oil lamp of  claim 9  wherein the combustion zone is disposed within a generally horizontal table having a peripheral lip, the horizontal table defining an area between about 5 square inches and about 15 square inches. 
   
   
       16 . The glass block oil lamp of  claim 9  wherein the combustion zone is disposed within a generally horizontal table having a peripheral lip, and wherein the glass block oil lamp further comprises a candle having a flat bottom disposed upon the horizontal table. 
   
   
       17 . A wall or window constructed of three or more vertical tiers of glass blocks, the glass blocks comprising glass building blocks and at least one glass block oil lamp of  claim 1 .